Valve Job Listing Outs New Focus On Hardware Development

A new job listing at Valve Corporation for an industrial designer is aimed at finding someone with a background in "product design and manufacturing, ergonomics, usability, aesthetics, and surfacing," Gamesindustry International reports. There have in the past been rumors and nods from company boss Gabe Newell toward a future in hardware development, but the new job listing is oddly specific with its seeming confirmation of an active internal push in that direction.

The posting describes Valve as "traditionally a software company," but then goes on to state that "we're frustrated by the lack of innovation in the hardware space though, so we're jumping in." Specific goals obviously aren't mentioned, though based on the job listing we're just as likely to see revisions of basic input devices like keyboards and mice as we are to see a broadly defined, industry-standard gaming hardware spec, a la the rumored Steam Box.